A quick and easy chilled pea salad with sharp Cheddar cheese, red onion and smoky bacon tossed in creamy ranch dressing. A simple make-ahead side dish that's especially good for picnics, potlucks and summer meals.
Servings: About 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes, plus 30 minutes chilling
Cook Time: None, except for cooking the bacon
Ingredients:
- 4 cups frozen peas (about 16 ounces), thawed
- ½ cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
- ½ cup ranch salad dressing
- ⅓ cup finely chopped red onion
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 bacon strips, cooked until crisp and crumbled
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine the thawed peas, Cheddar cheese, ranch dressing, red onion, salt and pepper.
- Gently toss until the peas and cheese are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
- Just before serving, stir in the crumbled bacon, reserving a little for garnish if desired.
- Serve chilled.
Tip: Make sure the peas are completely thawed and well drained before assembling the salad. Adding the bacon immediately before serving helps keep it crisp.
Source: Taste of Home